Mail-bag catcher.



PATENTED MAR.- 26, 190';;

G. H. NICHOLS.

MAIL BAG GATGHER-, APPLIOATION IILED 1'33. 18. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR WITNESSES rut NORIRIS PETERS 00., wnsnmaron, u. c.

No; 848,196. PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907. e. H. NICHOLS.

' MAIL BAG GATGHER.

APPLIOATIQN mum 23.13. 1901.

F /gp W 2 BKEETB-SEBET 2,

' WITNESSES INVENTOH A TTOHNE Y Tn: nouns Pzrl'ns co., WAIHINGTON, n,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. NICHOLS, OF NCRTVATTKJCCTINECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTH TOWILLIAM T. AINLEY, or NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.

MAIL-BAG CATCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 26, 1907.

Application filed February 18, 1907. Serial No. 367,822.

To all whom it 17mg concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norwalk, county of Fairfield, State of Uonnectiout, haveinvented a new and useful Mail- Bag Catcher, of which the following is aspeci fication.

This invention has for its object to provide a mail-bag catcher adaptedto be pivoted upon the inner side of a car near the dooropening, whichwill require but little room, will grip a suspended mail-bag and hold itsecurely but without danger of injuring the bag and without danger ofdropping it outside, and will automatically release the bag and permitit to drop upon the floor of the car when it is swung inward. W'iththese and other objects in view I have devised the novel mail-b agcatcher of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, reference characters beingused to indicate the several parts.

Figure 1 is a horizontal section on the line 1 2 in Fig. 4 illustratingmy novel mail-bag catcher in the horizontal and also in the engagingposition; Fig. 2, a similar view illustrating the catcher in thevertical and also in the releasing position; Fig. 3, a plan view of thecatcher detached with the top plate removed; Fig. 4, an elevationshowing the catcher in the vertical and also in the releasing position,as in Fig. 2, the point of view being from the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a detail elevation illustrating amid-position of the catcher as it is swung inward an instant before itis released and permitted to swing to the vertical position, and Fig. 6a detail elevation from a point of view opposite to that in Fig. 5.

10 denotes a vertical rod which is secured in brackets 11,bolted on theinner side of the wall of a car contiguous to the door-opening, which isindicated by 12. The operative parts are carried by a hub 13, whichoscillates upon rod 10 and rests upon a collar 14, rigidly secured tothe rod.

denotes a sleeve which extends upward from the collar, and 16 an armwhich extends outward and downward from the top' of the sleeve andsupports the outer end of a hori zontal rod 17, the inner end of whichis rigidly secured in hub 13, or, as in the present instance, in theupper end of a downwardlyextending arm 18, which is cast integral withor rigidly secured to the hub.

19 denotes the catcher proper as a whole- The special structure of thebody of the catcher is not of the essence of the invention. As shown inthe drawings, the body of the catcher comprises upper and lower plates(indicated by 20 and 21) which are screwed or bolted to blocks 22 and23. In order to give an additional support to the upper and lowerplates, one of the bolts or screws (specifically indicated by 24)carries'a sleeve 25, against the ends of which the upper and lowerplates, respectively, rest. Blocks 22 and 23 are provided with holes 26,which receive horizontal rod 17 freely. (See dotted lines, Figs. 1, 3,and 4.) The catcher swings from the horizontal to the vertical position,and vice versa, on this rod, as will be more fully explained. Block 22has formed integral therewith a handpiece 27 for convenience inmanipulation.

The mail-bag to be caught (not shown) is suspended by means of a cord orany suitable fixture and is caught between an engaging lever 28 and agripping-lever 29, both of which are pivoted between the upper and lowerplates of the catcher and are connected by means of a chain or flexiblewire cable, if

preferred, (indicated by 30.) The ends of this chain are connected tothe engaging and gripping levers approximately midway between thepivotal points of said levers and their outer ends. In the engagingposition, as in Fig. 1, the chain is stretched taut and lies atapproximately a right angle to the side of the car, which is indicatedby 31. The engaging lever is provided on the side toward thegripping-lever with a boss or projection 32, and its fulcrum-stud(indicated by 33) passes through this boss. The inner end of theengaging lever rests in the engaging position against an abutment 34 onblock 22 and is locked in the engaging position by means of a latch 35,which is recessed in block 22.

The latch is operated to release the engaging lever by means of a lever36, fulcrumed on a stud 39 in a recess 37 in block 22. A spring 38,recessed in abutment 34, bears against the lever on the opposite side ofits fulcrumstud from the latch and acts to retain the latch.in theengaging position, as in Fig. 3. The rear face of the latch and thecorrespondingface of the inner end of the engaging le' 1 matically lockthe engaging lever in the enplates Y20 and 21, one end of each springwhen the pin is at one end of the slots, or in ver are beveled, so thatwhen the engaging lever is swung to the engaging position it will pushthe latch backward against the power of the spring, after Which thespring will cause the latch to move forward and autogaging position. Theouter end of lever 36 carries a roller 40, which engages a cam. 41, (seeFig. 4 in connection with Fig. 1,) the action of which is to oscillatelever 36 and move the latch backward to release the engaging lever-andcause it to automatically release abag within the car when the catcheris swung to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, as'will bemore fullyexplained. Cam 41 has formed integral therewith a cam 42, the functionofwhich will presently be explained. These cams are shown as castintegral with a hub 43, which is rigidly secured to rod 10.

The gripping-lever is provided on the 0pposite side from the engaginglever with a boss or projection 44, and its fulcrum-stud (indicated by45) passes through this boss. At the'inner end of the gripping-lever isa pin 46, the ends of which pass through arcshaped slots 47 in upper andlower plates 20 and 21, the center of the circle of which the arc formsa part being the fulcrum-stud of the lever.

-48 denotes springs on the outer side of being'connected to an. end ofpin 46 and the other ends to eyes 49 upon a U -shaped hanger 50. Themid-length of this hanger engages asocket 51 in a plate 52, which isadjustablysecuredto block 23 by means of a b0lt53, passing through aslot in the block. By loosening the bolt the plate and hanger maybe slidinward or outward to regulate the tensionof the springs. As pin 46, tothe opposite ends of which the springs are connected, swings in an arc,of which the fulcrumstud of the gripping-lever is the center, andtheother ends of the springsare attached at po nts back of saidfulcrum-stud, it follows that the springs will be contracted whenthe pinisat'either'end of the slots and distended as'thepin is moved toward themid-length of the slots, so that the action of the springs will be toretain the gripping-lever at either the receiving position, as in Figs.1 and 3,

the gripping position, as in Figs. 2 and 4, when thepinis at theother'end of the slots. Inother words, the springsact to draw pin 46toward the nearest end of the slots, and thus retain thegripping-leverin either, position-inwhich'it may be placed.

54 denotes an arm which is rigidly secured to sleeve 15 bymeans of aclip 55 Orin-any suitable manner, and 56 a relatively strong spring, oneend of which is connected to the outer end of the arm andthe other endto the side of the car, as at 57, and which acts to draw-the catcherwithin the car as soon as the 1 catcher is released. The catcher islocked in the receiving position by means of a balanced hook-ended latch58, pivoted in a bracket 59, which projects from collar 14. This latchis engaged by a pin 60, extending from hub 13 and lifted when thecatcher is swung to the receiving position, and then the hooked enddrops back of the pin and automatically locks the catcher in position toengage a mail-bag suspended outside the car. When the catcher is swungfrom its vertical position, as in Figs. 2 and 4, to thehorizontalposition, it is locked there by means of a pendent latch 61,'whichispivotedin .arm '18, extending from hub 13. This latch is provided witha lug 62, (see Figs. 4 and 6,) which swings into the path of a plate 63,cast integral with or rigidly secured to block 22. This plate lies infront of lug 62 and retains the latch in the inoperative position at alltimes except when the catcher is swung tothe horizontal position. As thecatcher is swung to the horizontal position plate 63 swings past the lugand the weighted lower end of thelatch(indicated by'64) causes it toswing downward and throws the .lug outward into the path of the plate,the lug engaging the rear wall of the plate (indicated by 65, see Fig.6,) and automatically locking the catcherin the horizontal position.When the catcher is released and .is drawn inward by spring 56 orotherwise, the lower end 64 0f latch 61 engages cam 42, which is'ShOWIlaBQS made integral with cam 41 and rigidly secured to .rod 10.This cam acts to swing the lower end of the latch inward and draws lug62 inward out of the path of plate 63, thus automatically releasing thecatcher and permitting it to swing downward to the vertical position, asin Figs. 2 and 4.

The operation is as follows: Suppose the catcher to be in its normal .orreleas ing'position, as in Figs. 2 and 4. If it is required to catch amail-bag suspended outside the car while the car is moving, theoperator, means of handpiece 27, swings the catcher'to the horizontalposition, where it islocked by the engagement of lug 62 on pendent latch61 with rear wall 65 of plate 63 upon block 22. The operator then swingsthe catcher horizontally outward to the receiving position, as in Fig.l, where it is locked by the engagement of latch 58 with pin 60 and thenswings the grippinglever to the receiving position, which, by means ofchain '30, draws the engaging lever also to the recei.v ing position,where it is locked by latch 35. The suspended mail-bag passes betweenengaging lever 28 and gripping-lever 29 "and engages chain 30, the firsteflect of which is to swing the gripping-lever from its receivingposition, as in full lines in Fig. 1, to its gripping position, as indotted lines in said figure, in which position it firmly grips themail-bag between itself and the engaging lever. When the mail-bagstrikes the chain and the gripping lever is closed upon it, the catcheris swung backward slightly and the shock of the blow tilts hook-endedbalanced latch 58, causing it to release pin 60, which permits therelatively strong spring 56 to swing the catcher and mail-bag within thecar. Iendent latch 61 now engages cam 42, which swings the lower end ofsaid latch inward, as in Fig. 4, and draws lug 62 out of engagement withrear wall of plate 63 and permits the catcher to drop by gravity to itshorizontal position, as in Figs. 2 and 4. An instant later roller 40 onlever. 36 engages cam 41, tilts said lever against the power of spring38, and withdraws latch 35 from its engagement with the inner end ofengaging lever 28, permitting said lever to drop down ward, as in Fig.4, and permitting the mailbag to drop out from between the engaginglever and the gripping-lever upon the lioor of the car. When the deviceis not in use, clip 55 may be loosened, so that arm 54 will be loose onsleeve 15, and said arm and the catcher may be swung backward closeagainst the inner wall of the car and entirely out oi the way. Insetting the device for use the catcher is swung outward to a position atan angle to the wall of the car, and arm 54 is locked to the sleeve atapproximately a right angle to the catcher, as in Fig. 2. If prel'erred,arm 54 and spring 56 maybe dispensed with and the catcher swung withinthe car by means of a cord or rope as soon as it grips a m ail-bag.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A device of the characterdescribed comprising a horizontally and vertically swinging catcher,means for automatically locking the catcher in the horizontal positionand for looking it in the receiving position from which it is releasedby engagement with a mail-bag, means for automatically releasing thecatcher from its horizontal position as it is swung inward and means forautomatically releasing a mail-bag that has been caught.

2. A device of the character described comprising a horizontally andvertically swinging catcher, a latch 61 for automatically locking thecatcher in the horizontal position, a latch 58 for automatically lockingthe catcher in the receiving position from which it is released byengagement with a mail-bag, means for automatically actuating latch 61to permit the catcher to drop to the vertical position as it is swunginward, and means for automatically releasing a mail- 'b ag that hasbeen caught.

o. A device of the character described comprising a horizontally andvertically swinging catcher, a latch 61 for automatically locking thecatcher in the horizontal position, a latch 58 for automaticallylockfrom which it is released by engagement with a mail-bag, a springfor swinging the catcher inward when released, means for automaticallyactuating latch 61 to permit the catcher to drop to the verticalposition as it is swung inward, and means for automatically releasing amail-bag that has been caught.

4. A device of the character described comprising a horizontally andvertically swinging catcher provided with means for gripping a suspendedmail-bag, means for locking the catcher in the receiving position, andmeans for automatically releasing a mail-bag that has been caught.

5. A device of the character described comprising a horizontally andvertically swinging catcher provided with means for gripping a suspendedmail-bag, means for locking the catcher in the receiving position, aspring for drawing the catcher inward, and. means for automaticallyreleasing a mail-bag that has been caught.

6. A device of the character described comprising a horizontally andvertically swinging catcher provided with means for gripping a suspendedmail-bag, means for normally retaining the catcher Within a car, abalanced hook-ended latch for retaining the catcher in the receivingposition, means for releasing the catcher from the horizontal position,and means for releasing a mail-bag that has been caught.

7. A device of the character described comprising a horizontally andvertically swinging catcher, means for locking the catcher in thehorizontal position and for locking it in the receiving position, meansfor releasing the catcher so that it will drop to the vertical position,and means for releasing a mail-b 8. In a device of the characterdescribed the combination with a horizontally and vertically swingingcatcher and means for re taining said. catcher in the receivingposition, of a gripping-lever and an engaging lever pivoted to thecatcher, means for retaining the gripping-lever in the receiving andgripping positions, means for locking the engaging lever in thereceiving position and a chain connecting said levers which .is taut inthe receiving position, said chain acting to draw the gripping-lever tothe gripping position when engaged by a mail-bag and the shock releasingthe catcher which may then be swung inward.

9. In a device of the character described the combination with ahorizontally and vertically swinging catcher having arc slots 47 andmeans for retaining the catcher in the receiving position, of agripping-lever and an engaging lever pivoted to the catcher, a pin atthe inner end of the gripping-lever which engages the arc slots, sprlngsconnected to ing the catcher in the receiving position 1 said pin and tothe catcher back of the pivotal point ofsaid lever, whereby said leveris retained in either the receiving or gripping wpositions, means forlocking the engaging lever in the receiving position and a chainconnecting said'levers which is taut in the receiving position, sa1dchain actlng to draw the gripping-lever to the gripping position whenengaged by a mail-bag and the shock releasing the catcher which may thenbe swung inward.

10. In a device ofthecharacter described the combination with ahorizontally'and vertically swinging catcher and means for retainingsaid catcher'inthe receiving position,

mg lever in the receiving position.

11. In a device of the character described the combination withahorizontally and vertically swinging catcher and means for retainingsaid catcher in the receiving position, of a gripping-lever and anengaging lever pivoted to the catcher, means for retaining thegripping-lever in the receiving and 'gripping positions, a chainconnecting said levers which is taut in the receiving position, a latchfor locking the engaging lever in the re ceiving position, a leverengaging said latch and carrying a roller, a spring acting to retain thelatch in the engaging position and a cam which is engaged by the rollerto actuate the latch and release the engaging lever.

12. Ina device of the:character described the combination with ahorizontally and vertically swinging catcher, and means for retainingsaid catcher in the horizontal position and in the receiving position,of gripping and engaging levers pivoted to the catcher, means forretaining the .grippinglever in the receiving-and gripping positions, achain connecting said levers which. is taut inthe receiving position, alatch for locking the engaging lever in the receiving position, aspring-controlled leverengaging the latch and carrying a roller,means'for releasing the catcher from its horizontal position as it isswung inward and a cam engaged by the roller which actuates the latchand releases the engaging lever permitting it to drop to the releasingposition and release a mail-bag.

13. In a device of the character described the combination with ahorizontally andvertically swinging catcher, a latch 61 for locking thecatcher in the horizontal position, and a latch 58 for-locking thecatcher in the receiving :position, of gripping and engaging leverspivoted to thecatcher, means for 're taining the gripping ilever in thereceiving and gripping positions, a chain connecting said levers whichis taut in the receiving po sition and which draws the engaging lever tothe receiving'position when-the grippinglever is-moved to said position,a latch '35 for locking the engaging lever in the receiving position, alever'engaging said latch and carrying a roller, a cam engaged bylatch61 for releasing the catcher from'its horizontal posiby the roller foractuating latch 35 andreleasing the engaging lever.

14. A device of the character described comprising a horizontally andvertically swinging catcher, means for locking the catcher in thehorizontal position and for looking it in the receiving position, meansfor releasing the catcher so that it will drop to i the verticalposition, a spring for drawing the catcher inward and means 'forreleasing a mail-bag.

15. In a device of the 'character described the combination'with ahorizontally and vertically swinging catcher having arc slots 47 andmeans for retaining the catcher in the receiving position, of agripping-lever and an engaging lever'having bosses upon one side,fulcrum-studs extending through said bosses, a pin carried by thegripping-lever and en gaging the arc slots, springs connected to saidpin and to the catcher back of=the pivotal point of said lever, for thepurpose set forth, means for locking the engaginglever in the receivingposition,-and:a chain connecting said levers, substantiallyas shown forthe purpose specified.

16. In a device of the character described the combination with ahorizontally and vertically swinging catcher having arc slots 47 andmeans for retaining the catcher inthe receiving position, of agripping-lever and an engaging lever pivoted to the catcher, a pin atthe inner end of the gripping-lever which engages the ar: slots, anadiustable plate upon the catcher back ofthe pivotal. point of saidlever, a U-shaped hanger pivoted to said plate, springs connected tosaid pin and to the hanger, for the purpose set forth, means ingposition, and-a chain connectingsaid'levers.

17. In a device of the character described the combination with ahorizontally and vertically swinging catcher, engaging and grippinglevers pivoted'thereto, means for retaining said levers in the receivingposition and means for locking the catcher in the receiving position, ofmeans for releasing the catcher and permitting it to drop to thehorizontal position as it is swung inward and gripped.

18. Ina device of the character described the combination with ahorizontally and vertically swinging catcher, engaging and grippinglevers pivoted thereto, means for retain ing the gripping-lever in thereceiving position, and a latch 35 for locking the engaging tion as itis swung inward and a cam engaged for locking the engaging lever in thereceivmeans for releasing a mail-bag that has been lever in thereceiving position, of means for locking the catcher in the receivingposition, a latch 61 for locking the catcher in the horizontal position,a cam 41 engaging said latch as the catcher is swung inward, to releasethe catcher and permit it to swing to the vertical position, and a cam42 engaging latch 35 to release the engaging lever, substantially asdescribed, for the purpose Specified.

19. In a device of the character described the combination with ahorizontally and vertically swinging catcher, engaging and grippinglevers pivoted thereto, a chain connecting said levers, means forretaining the gripping-lever in the receiving position, a latch 35 forlocking the engaging lever in the receiving position, a latch 61 forlocking the catcher in the horizontal position, and means for lockingthe catcher in the receiving position, of a cam 41, engaging latch 61 asthe catcher is swung inwarC and a cam 42 engaging latch 35,substantially as described for the purpose specified.

20. In a device of the character described the combination with avertically and horizontally swinging catcher, engaging and grippinglevers pivoted thereto, a chain connecting said levers, means forretaining said levers in the receiving position, and means for lockingthe catcher in the receiving position, from which it is released byengagement with a mail-bag, of a cam 41 acting as the catcher is swunginward to release it and permit it to swing to the vertical position anda cam 42 acting to release a mail-bag that has been gripped.

21. In a device of the character described the combination with avertically and hori zontally swinging catcher, and engaging and gripplnglevers pivoted thereto, of a chain connecting said levers, means forlocking the engaging lever in the receiving position, means for retammgthe grippmg-lever 1n the receiving position and retaining the cham taut,and means for locking the catcher in the receiving position, theengagement of a mail- I bag with the chain acting to draw-thegripping-lever to the gripping position and grip a mail-bag betweenitself and the engaging :lever, and the shock actin' to release the lcatcher which may then be rawn inward.

' 22. In a device of the character described the combination with avertically and horizontally swinging catcher, enga ing and gripl pinglevers pivoted thereto, a c ain connectl ing said levers, a latch 35 forlocking the engaging lever in the receiving position, means l forretaining the gripping-lever in the receiving position and retaining thechain taut, a

l latch 61 for locking the catcher in the horizontal position, and meansfor locking the catcher in the receiving position, the engagement of amail-ba with the chain acting to i draw the gripping lever to thegripping position and grip a mail-bag between itself and i the engaginglever and the shock acting to release the catcher which may then bedrawn inward, of a cam engaging latch 61 as the catcher swings inward torelease it and peri mit it to drop to the vertical position, and a l camengaging latch 35 to release the engagl ing lever and a mail-bag thathas been gripped.

23. In a device of the character described the combination with avertically and horizontally swinging catcher provided with means forgripping a mail-bag, and means for locking the catcher in the receivingposition from which it is released by engagement with a mail-bag, of alatch 61 for locking the catcher in the horizontal position, a cam whichis engaged by said latch as the catcher is swung inward to release thecatcher and permit it to drop to the vertical position, and means forautomatically releasing a mail-bag that has been gripped.

In testimony whereof I al'hx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. NICHOLS.

IVitnesses A. M. Woo'srnn, i S. W. ATHERTON.

